Donbas declares emergency following drone strike on thermal plant
A blackout occurred in occupied Donetsk region following an attack on a thermal power plant (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On the night of November 18, Ukrainian drones struck two thermal power plants in the occupied Donetsk region. Following the attack, the so-called authorities declared a state of emergency, according to Russian media.
Pro-Kremlin outlets report that the decree on the state of emergency was signed by the so-called governor of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin. The declaration came after the drone attacks on the Zuivska and Starobesheve thermal power plants.
According to the decree, commissions will be established to determine instances of violations of citizens’ living conditions and the loss of essential property.
“Ostorozhno, Novosti” added that, according to the head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic government, Chertkov, who was appointed to lead the emergency response, the state of emergency will allow for faster measures to manage the situation.
In the morning, Pushilin wrote on his Telegram that 65% of consumers were without electricity. In addition, further power outages were possible as a result of the attack.
What preceded the attack
On the night of November 18, local channels reported unidentified drones over the Donetsk region.
Shortly after, it became known that the drones attacked the Zuivska thermal power plant, and closer to morning, the Starobesheve plant.
During this time, Telegram channels reported power outages in at least Donetsk, Ilovaisk, and parts of Makiivka.
Later in the day, Ukrainian Unmanned Systems commander Robert Brovdi, “Madyar,” stated that Ukrainian Drone Forces carried out strikes on the two aforementioned thermal power plants.
